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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Yorktown Town Board Regular Meeting - February 6, 2024

Town Board — Tuesday, February 6, 2024

BodyYorktown, New York

SessionTown Board

DateTuesday, February 6, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:45:14

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:05

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the uh town board meeting of February 6, 2024.

0:13

Welcome our police department.

0:29

We could all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:34

Chief Noble, if you would lead us.

0:52

And if we could uh have a moment of silence, uh remembering um all of those who serve our country as first responders in our military, and please keep the family of uh Mary Lou Papa in your in your hearts today, a friend of uh Luciana's who passed and uh thank you.

1:20

Amen.

1:33

All right, we'll start with introductions to my right.

1:36

Good evening, Diana Quas, town clerk.

1:39

Acting deputy uh supervisor Ed Lacterman, Councilman Sergio Esposito, Councilwoman Luciana Howe.

1:46

Councilman Patrick Murphy.

1:48

Town attorney Adam Rodriguez.

1:50

Okay.

1:52

Um so you know what?

1:55

Um I'm gonna keep my remarks very short because we have a police presentation that I would like to get to.

2:00

Uh I just want to remind everyone that as of our meeting from uh this past Wednesday, there will be a special election in the town of Yorktown uh for the vacancy uh left by Tom Diana's passing, and that will be on April 16th.

2:15

There will be early voting before that, and there will be absentee voting available.

2:20

Absentee ballots are available through the uh Westchester County Board of Elections website.

2:27

Thank you.

2:29

Uh yeah, just a couple of quick announcements.

2:31

Uh we had a great uh polar plunge.

2:34

Um I was hoping it was gonna be warmer in February, and it and it wasn't.

2:38

Pat and I went in, although Pat welched, he didn't go all the way underwards.

2:45

So um so it was it was a great event, and um it was our third annual.

2:50

Uh we actually dedicated it to the memory of of uh Supervisor Tom Diana uh because he loved to he loved to do the plunge as well.

2:57

Um we also have an interesting event coming up.

3:00

It's a comedy night, it's at the Yorktown stage, it's on February 10th, and some of the money's gonna go to uh it's gonna go back to uh raising funds for the marquee.

3:10

So we call it Marquee makeover night.

3:12

Um there's gonna be three really good comedians.

3:14

So uh take a look at it, buy your ticket.

3:18

Uh there's still tickets available, it's gonna be a lot of fun, and it's on February 10th.

3:22

Great to see all of you passing it on.

3:25

Hi, everyone.

3:26

I just want to remind that the Yorktown Lions Club is still doing their fabulous cereal bowl.

3:31

There are uh there's a box out front here, and there's a box at the library.

3:35

I just find this to be a really really special um pickup because finding cereal, even as someone who can afford to go into the stores and pick it up.

3:43

You get this much, and it's a privilege that it gets to go to our pantry, so I really encourage you.

3:48

And if anyone has children at Brookside Elementary, they're doing what's called a soup bowl, and they're collecting soups for the pantry.

3:55

And I always thought that was really great too.

3:57

So I encourage you to send in a super two with your children.

4:01

Thank you.

4:02

All right, uh a little something on the schools, is having the the school vote is on uh the 13th of February, and there's two props on there.

4:12

I'll give you the cliff notes on that.

4:13

Uh prop one is about uh forty-six million dollars.

4:18

It's uh tax neutral, and it's basically the three elementary schools get an extra six rooms.

4:27

The high school and middle school, a bunch of the rooms are getting just a facelift where they're gonna get new uh cabinetry and new floors, and uh the science research, music, and art will get a full gut and upgrade technology for those areas.

4:46

Uh additionally, there'll be a uh multi-purpose field between the football field and the middle school, and that will be lined for multiple different events, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, and then uh Prop two is going to be about 11 million dollars.

5:05

It basically comes out to depending on your assessment of the house, it's about six to eight dollars a month for for that.

5:12

And that's gonna uh the I think it the Mahansack is the last cafeteria and kitchen that needs to be upgraded.

5:21

So that's included in there, and it's a generator to do all their important infrastructure, their IT, the lights, the refrigeration, uh that's what that generators for.

5:33

And then there'll be uh another multipurpose field between the high school and middle school where the kids can practice while the other fields are being used, because typically they'll they'll have to practice really early so that they're for normal game, and then they'll they'll be able to practice and have a game simultaneously.

5:52

So and prop two cannot pass without being Prop One passing.

5:57

So and the vote is on February 13th.

6:00

Okay, and I just want to give a little kudos out.

6:03

Last night we had a water main break right here on 202, and the water department, they were there within literally 10-15 minutes, they had to shut off in about five minutes.

6:13

Me and Ed stopped back about I don't know, about 45 minutes later, and there had to be about uh you know, two trucks out there, six people, and they took it, they addressed it really fast.

6:25

So a little kudos to the uh water department.

6:28

And thank you, Patrick.

6:29

And and just uh just a part of that, uh, we did have a conversation with the uh the water department, uh, our new uh our new uh water supply superintendent, Paul Vasillow, and a lot of the the breakage, because there's been questions as our weather changes cold to hot, hot to cold, warm, there's a lot of movement in the ground, the pipes move, the pipes shift, uh they are older, and you end up with cracks in them.

6:55

Actually, uh, I think two of the breaks were actually just leaks that they were able to collar real quick without a loss of water.

7:03

But you know, any infrastructure that's part of our budgeting, we we know that we're gonna have these repairs, and then we do some additional work to replace is one of Tom Diana's uh final projects was replacing the transite line over on Broad Street.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Historic Preservation████████████████████████████28%

Public Safety████████████████████20%

Public Engagement███████████████████19%

Public Health█████5%

Public Utilities█████5%

Cannabis Regulation████4%

Personnel Matters███3%

Taxation███3%

Procedural██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Yorktown Town Board Regular Meeting - February 6, 2024

The Yorktown Town Board held its regular meeting on February 6, 2024, starting at approximately 7:00 PM. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and introductions. Deputy Supervisor Ed Lacertman presided. Key topics included police department updates, public comments on fluoride and landmarking, a public hearing and vote on the Underhill Farm landmark application, and approval of numerous resolutions.

Announcements and Reports

Special Election: Deputy Supervisor Lacertman announced a special election on April 16, 2024, to fill the vacancy left by Supervisor Tom Diana’s passing, with early and absentee voting available.
Community Events: He promoted the third annual Polar Plunge (dedicated to Tom Diana) and a Marquee Makeover comedy night on February 10, 2024.
School Vote: Councilman Murphy summarized the February 13 school vote: Proposition 1 (46 million, tax-neutral) for elementary additions and high school/middle school upgrades, and Proposition 2 (11 million) for cafeteria/generator/field; Prop 2 depends on Prop 1.
Water Main Break: Kudos to the water department for a rapid response on a water main break on Route 202.
Black History Month Proclamation: Read by Councilman Murphy.
Heart Health Month Proclamation: Read by Councilwoman Howe, recognizing February as Heart Health Month and February 2 as National Wear Red Day.

Police Department Presentation

Chief Robert Noble led a presentation that included:

Swearing-in of Officer Fernando Dennis: Officer Dennis was sworn in by Town Clerk Diana Quas; he previously served with the Village of Austin Police and is a Spanish speaker.
2023 Use of Force Statistics: Chief Noble reported that in 2023, only two individuals suffered injuries from use of force (one from taser prongs, one self-inflicted bloody nose). There were 33 instances of hands-on force with no injuries. He emphasized the department’s de-escalation training and community engagement.
Prepared 911 Technology: A new live-streaming and location-sharing system for emergency calls, initiated by Supervisor Tom Diana before his passing; the department is beta-testing it.
Smoke Shop Closure: The police department, with assistance from the Building Department and NYS Department of Taxation, shut down a smoke shop on Commerce Street that sold marijuana to minors. The chief expressed strong opposition to such shops and noted efforts to enact a moratorium.
Community Policing Efforts: Det. Caprio conducted active shooter response training at Guiding Eyes for the Blind and Temple Beth Am. The department is collecting for United for the Troops and Support Connection in memory of Capt. Kenneth Scroy (Act of Kindness Day, March 16). Also, the department raised over $2,800 for a local family.
Crime Prevention: Three cars were broken into via smashed windows because valuables were left in plain sight; chief advised locking cars and removing valuables.

Poet Laureate

John [last name not given] read a poem about the difficulties of January 2024, including the passing of Supervisor Diana and a family medical issue.

Public Comments

Susan Siegel (Yorktown resident): Asked for updates on fluoride in water and the termination of the Granite Knolls solar project. She criticized the town board’s resolution rejecting landmarking of Underhill Farm, stating several factual errors, including misstating the Heritage Commission’s request (only one outbuilding, not seven) and claims that landmarking would delay or harm the project. She urged board members to base their vote on facts.
Sarah Wilson (Yorktown Heights resident): Thanked the community for supporting cereal and soup bowl drives for the food pantry, noting food insecurity is a year-round issue. She encouraged continued donations.

Discussion Items

Fluoride Update: Deputy Supervisor Lacertman responded that an agreement was signed, but the water department is resolving a pump issue; once resolved, notification letters will be sent.
Underhill Farm Landmark Application: This was the major discussion item. The Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) recommended designating the 13.8-acre property (main building, outbuildings, landscape features) as a local landmark. The town board held a public hearing on January 30, 2024. The planning board submitted a memorandum opposing the landmarking, arguing the site plan already preserves the main mansion, stone walls, and gates, and that landmarking would create conflicts and additional costs. Several board members (Lacertman, Esposito, Howe, Murphy) expressed concerns about imposing costs on the property owner, the condition of the outbuildings, and the lack of funding for preservation. Deputy Supervisor Lacertman noted he is negotiating an agreement with the owner to provide additional protection (consent required before demolition of the main building). The board voted to reject the HPC’s recommendation.

Key Outcomes

Underhill Farm Landmark Application: The town board voted (5-0, with Councilman Murphy recused) to reject the landmark application and instead require the property owner to sign an agreement within seven days that would require town board consent before demolition of the main building.
Personnel Resolutions: Approved the retirement of Kim Penner (Assessor), Margaret Grocia (Library), and Jeffrey Rosenstrack (Refuse & Recycling); authorized increased hours for part-time clerk Anna Marie Mandara.
Local Laws Referred: Four proposed local laws were referred to department heads for comment:
1. Moratorium on new smoke/vape shops (through September 2024).
2. Moratorium on large-scale solar energy systems (over 25 kW) (through September 2024).
3. Amendments to senior tax exemption income definitions.
4. Amendments to the ethics code (with a pending revision to limit the ethics board’s scope to the four corners of a complaint).
Multiple Resolutions Approved: Including fee waivers for events (Street Beats Dance Studio, Chabad of Yorktown), authorization to scrap/sell obsolete vehicles, termination of the HESP Solar lease (Granite Knolls), attendance at conferences, refunds of duplicate tax payments, budget transfers for highway drainage and salt purchase, release of retainage, bid awards for grit removal and chemicals, library grant acceptance, and refund of water account overpayment.

The meeting adjourned around 8:30 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the uh town board meeting of February 6, 2024. Welcome our police department. We could all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Chief Noble, if you would lead us. And if we could uh have a moment of silence, uh remembering um all of those who serve our country as first responders in our military, and please keep the family of uh Mary Lou Papa in your in your hearts today, a friend of uh Luciana's who passed and uh thank you. Amen. All right, we'll start with introductions to my right. Good evening, Diana Quas, town clerk. Acting deputy uh supervisor Ed Lacterman, Councilman Sergio Esposito, Councilwoman Luciana Howe. Councilman Patrick Murphy. Town attorney Adam Rodriguez. Okay. Um so you know what? Um I'm gonna keep my remarks very short because we have a police presentation that I would like to get to. Uh I just want to remind everyone that as of our meeting from uh this past Wednesday, there will be a special election in the town of Yorktown uh for the vacancy uh left by Tom Diana's passing, and that will be on April 16th. There will be early voting before that, and there will be absentee voting available. Absentee ballots are available through the uh Westchester County Board of Elections website. Thank you. Uh yeah, just a couple of quick announcements. Uh we had a great uh polar plunge. Um I was hoping it was gonna be warmer in February, and it and it wasn't. Pat and I went in, although Pat welched, he didn't go all the way underwards. So um so it was it was a great event, and um it was our third annual. Uh we actually dedicated it to the memory of of uh Supervisor Tom Diana uh because he loved to he loved to do the plunge as well. Um we also have an interesting event coming up. It's a comedy night, it's at the Yorktown stage, it's on February 10th, and some of the money's gonna go to uh it's gonna go back to uh raising funds for the marquee. So we call it Marquee makeover night. Um there's gonna be three really good comedians. So uh take a look at it, buy your ticket. Uh there's still tickets available, it's gonna be a lot of fun, and it's on February 10th. Great to see all of you passing it on. Hi, everyone. I just want to remind that the Yorktown Lions Club is still doing their fabulous cereal bowl. There are uh there's a box out front here, and there's a box at the library. I just find this to be a really really special um pickup because finding cereal, even as someone who can afford to go into the stores and pick it up. You get this much, and it's a privilege that it gets to go to our pantry, so I really encourage you. And if anyone has children at Brookside Elementary, they're doing what's called a soup bowl, and they're collecting soups for the pantry. And I always thought that was really great too. So I encourage you to send in a super two with your children. Thank you. All right, uh a little something on the schools, is having the the school vote is on uh the 13th of February, and there's two props on there. I'll give you the cliff notes on that. Uh prop one is about uh forty-six million dollars. It's uh tax neutral, and it's basically the three elementary schools get an extra six rooms. The high school and middle school, a bunch of the rooms are getting just a facelift where they're gonna get new uh cabinetry and new floors, and uh the science research, music, and art will get a full gut and upgrade technology for those areas. Uh additionally, there'll be a uh multi-purpose field between the football field and the middle school, and that will be lined for multiple different events, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, and then uh Prop two is going to be about 11 million dollars. It basically comes out to depending on your assessment of the house, it's about six to eight dollars a month for for that. And that's gonna uh the I think it the Mahansack is the last cafeteria and kitchen that needs to be upgraded. So that's included in there, and it's a generator to do all their important infrastructure, their IT, the lights, the refrigeration, uh that's what that generators for. And then there'll be uh another multipurpose field between the high school and middle school where the kids can practice while the other fields are being used, because typically they'll they'll have to practice really early so that they're for normal game, and then they'll they'll be able to practice and have a game simultaneously.

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